MUSIC DOLL BOX: Chapter 7

Chapter Seven: SeeD Cadets Arrived

The small girl smiled at Rinoa, she had light blonde hair hanging loose around her face. Rinoa smiled back at her, and had great desire to look after the tiny girl, she didn't look like a SeeD cadet. Squall had split the cadets into two teams, the small girl was in the group with the large man. When Squall had finished speaking to Zell and Quistis he came to stand next to her.

Rinoa smiled at him, but she was nervous. So far Squall was the one she knew the littlest about, and there was a degree of awkwardness between them.

"Squad A will be assisting the Galbadia army, there has been some rebel uprising against the president. Squad B will also be assisting, but they will be back up for Squad A," Squall explained.

Rinoa nodded, but she didn't really understand. She wanted to appear interested, but she knew she wouldn't be able to ask him anything intelligent.

"Will that girl be alright?" Rinoa asked. "She looks very young."

Squall looked at the blonde girl, she gave him a childish excited smile.

"Clari? She's fourteen. She'll be the youngest SeeD in history if she passes the exam, even beating Quistis' record. Quistis was fifteen," he added.

Rinoa nodded, she remembered Quistis telling her herself back at home. Rinoa suddenly realised just how special that must have been, she hadn't put it into context before.

"If her instructor didn't think she was ready, then she wouldn't be here," Squall said.

Rinoa nodded again, but it didn't make her worry any less. Her instructor might have got it wrong. But Clari didn't look nervous at all, she was furiously reading the file that Zell had given her.

"Quistis and Zell will be leaving us now," Squall said in his usual business-like tone.

"So…" Rinoa said dragging out the word. "It's just you and me?"

She tried a flirtatious smile, but Squall didn't seem to notice. He nodded once to the affirmative. Feeling knocked back by her efforts, Rinoa decided to be nonchalant. She shrugged her shoulders to show him she didn't really care.

"What are we going to do?" she asked. She didn't really see Squall as the spontaneous type, it was probably better to make a plan of action.

"What would you normally be doing on a Sunday afternoon?" Squall asked, leading the way to the car as he spoke.

Rinoa shrugged again.

"Hanging out with Selphie and…" she was about to say Seifer, but thought better of it. If she mentioned a boy, he might decide it would be easier watching her if she stayed at home.

"And?" he questioned.

"No and, just Selphie," Rinoa said smiling. She got into the car before he could ask anymore.

They pulled up in front of Selphie's house, and Rinoa jumped out ready to knock on the door. To her surprise the door opened and she came face to face with Seifer. Taken aback, Rinoa stepped off of the front step and back onto the path.

Seifer looked equally as surprised to see her there, he smiled genuinely for a second before it became a smirk.

"So, couldn't keep away from me huh?" he asked grinning.

Rinoa felt herself colour. He laughed, but his laughter was caught short when he looked over her shoulder. Rinoa looked around also, to see Squall watching her closely, his back leaning against the car, his arms folded.

"Who's that?" Seifer asked, his voice with a hint of accusation.

"Yeah, who is that?"

Rinoa looked back to see that Selphie had now joined Seifer.

"One of the SeeDs I was telling you about Selph," Rinoa replied. She was careful not to look at Seifer, who she could see was standing a little straighter than usual.

She looked back at Squall, he was still unashamedly staring at her. She tried another smile, but he replied by crossing his arms a little tighter.

"Oh," Selphie said, vaguely recalling Rinoa mention something about SeeD in a phone conversation. "Me and Seifer were going to go get some shakes, you want to come?"

"Sure," Rinoa said. "But Squall will have to come with me."

She wondered what the conversation would have been if she had been allowed to ride in Seifer's car, but Squall insisted she stay with him. She'd been forced to leave Seifer to wonder what was going on, and she couldn't trust Selphie to give him the correct answers. Squall followed Seifer's car through the traffic and onto the main-street where he turned left into a car park.

Rinoa wanted to run ahead and walk with Seifer, but Squall was in no hurry, and she was forced out of politeness to walk at a more subdued pace.

"I won't sit with you," Squall said once everyone else had chosen a table.

"Oh," Rinoa said surprised. "You're welcome to though."

Maybe she hadn't been very including, she supposed when she said Squall had to come with her, it might of sounded like he was a burden or an annoyance.

"Yeah, you can sit with us," Selphie repeated slapping the seat beside her.

Seifer said nothing.

"Thank you, but I have to make some calls," Squall said, he walked a few tables away, so as not to appear to be listening to their conversation, then sat down. He proceeded to pull out a mobile phone and begin dialling.

Rinoa frowned, but her attention was torn away from Squall when Seifer tapped her arm.

"What you having?" he asked.

Rinoa looked at the menu, and pointed at something randomly. Her mind still wasn't really with them. She was still wondering why Squall had had to borrow the home phone last night, when he had his own. She only barely registered Seifer leaving their table to go order, and shortly after realised that she hadn't given him any money.

She pulled her bag closer and began searching for her purse.

"My treat," Seifer said as he re-joined them. "I said I'd cheer Selphie up, and nothing makes Selphie happier than people buying her things."

Selphie grinned, she wasn't about to argue.

"What's with the guard?" he asked looking at Squall.

Squall was now studying the menu, whilst still talking on the phone.

"You know I said my dad went mental? Well he hired SeeD to watch over me. That's Squall, he's the commander of Balamb Garden, and there's…"

"Hang on, he's the Commander? What?" Selphie interrupted too loudly.

Rinoa had the sense that Squall's eyes had just flickered over her, but she was too shy to check.

"Yeah, he's the Commander. There's two other's as well, a teacher, Quistis, and some guy called Zell, with really awesome hair. But they're busy today," Rinoa finished. "I think they have to follow me everywhere… or I have to stay with them."

"Your dad hired the Commander of Balamb Garden to watch out for you?" Seifer asked, looking sceptical. "Just because you were hanging out with me and Selphie?"

Rinoa nodded.

"Pretty much."

Seifer shook his head.

"That's bloody insane," he declared.

Seifer managed to sum up Rinoa's feelings in one sentence, and before they knew it they were in hysterics.

"Hey, since we're such bad influences, how about a shot of vodka and a cigarette to go with that milkshake?" Seifer offered.

Trying to drink through a straw and laugh at the same time, resulted in Rinoa slopping part of her drink onto the table.

"Oh great Heartilly, now look what you've done," Seifer said throwing her a serviette. "Can't take her anywhere."

"Shut up!" Rinoa demanded hitting him playfully on the arm.

"No seriously, can't take her anywhere. Not anymore anyway," Seifer said, his tone ended the laughter and brought an uncomfortable silence.

Squall drove her home, stopping to pick up Quistis and Zell at the train station. Rinoa could see they were tired, as Zell didn't speak, and Quistis' hair was no longer tied back. Quistis spoke quietly to Squall as they drove, but said nothing that interested Rinoa.
Just before they reached the house, her phone bleeped.

Sneak out tomorrow. Seifer xx